Tag Archives: Western Sahara

Day 2809: #StandInTheSand and Western Sahara’s Freedom

“I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.” – Nelson Mandela

It’s 1 : 02 PM on day 2808 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, take a picture for have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised $14 469 only $4 281 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

Today is Africa Day and as my ongoing demonstration of solidarity I #StandInTheSand with the Saharawi People as they continue to fight for freedom from Morocco’s 42-year illegal occupation of the Western Sahara (#StandInTheSand is an international solidarity campaign launched by Saharawi organizations in the refugee camps as well in the occupied territory). To join the #StandInTheSand movement stand in sand, take a picture and share it on social media using #StandInTheSand. Let us stand for Western Sahara like other African countries stood for us,

Day 2784: Africa Month and the 42-Year Illegal Occupation of the Western Sahara

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“I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.” – Nelson Mandela

It’s 12 : 44 PM on day 2784 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Exodus 23:25, have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – raised $14 409 only $4 341 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018.

The month of May is Africa Month and while I’m proud to be African and we have much to celebrate I would like to call attention once again to the illegal occupation of the Western Sahara by Morocco (can you imagine fleeing from war to what you thought would be a temporary refugee camp only to still be there 42 YEARS LATER?) the United Nations recognizes the Western Sahara as a country separate from Morocco but the referendum the UN promised in 1991 is yet to take place and why because Morocco has powerful allies at the UN. To the UN: I know for a fact that it does not take 27 YEARS to organize a referendum please I BEG of you put your selfish interests aside and think of the Saharawi children who are growing up in the blistering heat on the borders of Algeria with less than the basics.

Catherine Constantinides at the Saharawi Refugee Camp

A Week in Saharawi Refugee Camps | Michael Cost

Day 2767: Western Saharan refugee women use film in liberation struggle

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“Better to die fighting for freedom then be a prisoner all the days of your life.” ― Bob Marley

It’s 2: 28 PM on day 2767 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Proverbs 5, promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet –raised $13 584 only $5 166 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to reach my new goal of helping 75 kids with Clubfoot by June 17, 2018 – participate in the Global Social Media Conference for International Solidarity (organized by the Norwegian government )- I learned so much (we need to do away with otherism because truly we are only human together).

Recently I watched a short documentary about the Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa, that I think everybody should see the struggle of the Saharawi people continues to move me. Watch “Western Saharan refugee women use film in liberation struggle” below:

Day 2604: My First Face-to-Face Newspaper Interview

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“If you want something you’ve never had
You must be willing to do something you’ve never done.”

― Thomas Jefferson

It’s 1: 44 PM on day 2604 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Psalm 23:4, do an interview with Barbara Hollands from the Daily Dispatch, and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet -raised $4 388 only $8 112 more to raise by June 17, 2018 to help 50 kids with clubfoot (thanks to everyone who has helped out so far).

Today Barbara Hollands from the Daily Dispatch – our city’s local newspaper – came to interview me about my 50 New Feet campaign, the Western Sahara and a few other things that I’ve done in the past she was so nice I felt like I was talking to a friend who just happened to be taking notes during our conversation (thanks Barbara it was an honour to meet you).

Day 2471: World Refugee Day and the #WesternSahara

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Nobody chooses to be a refugee – that’s what I want the world to know.

It’s 11 : 44 AM on day 2471 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read Revelation 3: 17 have breakfast and promote my 50 New Feet Campaign benefiting MiracleFeet – Anonymous donated $25 yesterday and Beverly and Anonymous donated $50 each today (thanks to them all) which brings the total raised to $410 only $12 090 more to raise in 362 days to help 50 kids with clubfoot (it won’t be easy but we can do this i know it).

Today is World Refugee Day and in honour of that I would like to take a moment to think about the people of the Western Sahara some of whom are currently living in refugee camps on the borders of Algeria because Morocco has been illegally occupying the Western Sahara for the past 41 YEARS which to me is SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE there shouldn’t be a colony in Africa in the 21^st century. To the UN: A promise was made that a referendum would be held in 1991 to deal with the issue of the Western Sahara and 26 years later still no referendum I mean really does it take you guys 26 YEARS to organize a referendum show some teeth for crying out loud use your voices to speak for the unheard (I did).

Day 2445: Thinking of the Saharawi People this Africa Day

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“If everyone does something… something will change.” – Catherine Constantinides

It’s 12 : 19 PM on day 2445 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Exodus 20:12 and learn a new word – Definitions for cantankerous
disagreeable to deal with; contentious; peevish: a cantankerous, argumentative man.

Today is Africa Day and although this continent has a lot to celebrate the illegal occupation of the Western Sahara by Morocco remains an ugly scar on the continent. On this day I pledge to continue speaking about the Saharawi People until the day that they can return to their country, the Western Sahara.

Day 2370: Catherine Constantinides at the Saharawi Refugee Camp

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“If people are not listening to you as individuals, it’s always good to get together and make a stand for something.” – Tinie Tempah

It’s 12 : 08 PM on day 2370 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, have breakfast, read Genesis 1: 26 and learn a new word – Definitions for fusillade
1.a general discharge or outpouring of anything: a fusillade of questions. 2.a simultaneous or continuous discharge of firearms. 3.to attack or shoot by a fusillade.

Yesterday I was privileged to share Catherine Constantinides’s recent visit to a Saharawi refugee camp on my YouTube channel – the Saharawi People are from a country called the Western Sahara which has been illegally occupied by Morocco for the past 41 YEARS – every time I watch Catherine’s video I’m struck by how hot and dry the refugee camp seems it’s a wonder that human beings are able to survive there. Thanks to my Superhero Catherine Constantinides for being a voice for the Saharawi People and for allowing me to share the footage (you are truly unlike any other human being I’ve ever met remarkable in your passion, purpose, focus, humility and courage of conviction). Watch “Catherine Constantinides at the Saharawi Refugee Camp” below:

Day 2234: “25 Smiles for Smile Train and the Western Sahara”

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We die a little each time we stay silent about things that matter – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 10 : 26 AM on day 2234 of my journey towards independence and I managed to have breakfast, pray, read 1 Peter 2: 9, learn one new thing – The English word alphabet came into Middle English from the Late Latin word alphabetum, which in turn originated in the Greek ἀλφάβητος (alphabētos), from alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet. – and work on my 25 Smiles Campaign –raised $8 136.04 only $4 363.96 more to raise to reach my second goal of raising $12 500 for Smile Train before Jan 10 2017 (SO SO SO GRATEFUL to everyone who has supported this campaign so far ).

Yesterday I posted a video titled “25 Smiles for Smile Train and the Western Sahara” it’s basically an update on 25 Smiles (for my YouTube subscribers) and an introduction to the Western Sahara. Watch “25 Smiles for Smile Train and the Western Sahara” below:

[Update January 12, 2017: Campaign ended 2 days ago. Final total raised is $10 317.04 [enough money to sponsor 41 smiles]]

Day 1874: Don’t forget the Saharawi people

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Be grateful for all that you have some people are not so fortunate – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 12 : 14 PM on day 1874 of my journey towards independence and I’ve managed to brush my teeth, pray, read Acts 19, publish my Disability of the Day feature, publish my Kid of the Week feature, learn one new thing –Slavish [slav·ish] adj. Showing no originality; blindly imitative: “A slavish copy of the original work.” – have breakfast and hang out with my family.

This morning I was thinking about the Western Sahara and the Saharawi people – the Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco for the past FORTY YEARS which forced the Saharawi people to seek refuge in south-west Algeria – I cannot imagine what it’s like for the Saharawi people they have lived in those tents for forty years basically cut off from the rest of the world with just enough food to survive and hope that they will one day return to their home it’s just not fair that some people have to live in such unliveable conditions while the rest of us sleep on comfy beds and have more than enough of everything to survive and thrive. To the U.N and the African Union: PLEASE put more pressure on Morocco to leave the Western Sahara. To the rest of us: Let’s raise some hell on behalf of the Saharawi people they have suffered for forty years too long. Special thanks to my hero without a cape Catherine Constantinides who takes every opportunity to tell the world about the Saharawi people after having spent ten days with them in the refugee camp (dude you rock I love you to the moon and back).

To raise awareness about the plight of the Saharawi people please share Gareth Cliff’s interview with Catherine Constantinides far and wide